Lion Air to Establish Technical Link with Delta Airlines?

US$1 Billion Maintenance Center in Jakarta to be Managed by U.S. Carrier.

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(10/13/2007)

Bisnis Indonesia reports that Indonesian air carrier Lion Air is eyeing a technical assistance agreement with U.S. carrier Delta Airlines for the construction of a major aircraft maintenance facility in Jakarta.

The President Director of Lion Air, Rusdi Kirana, said that a preliminary agreement had been reached on a US$1 billion service contract that will include the construction of an Indonesian maintenance facility. "We have agreed on a plan; the formal signing will hopefully occur next year," explained Kirana.

According to Kirana, Delta Airlines were chosen to team with Lion Air because of their advanced state-of-the-art maintenance facilities in the U.S.A.. To prepare for the opening of the facility in Jakarta, six Lion Air maintenance technicians have spent the past 6 months at the Delta maintenance headquarter in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S.A.).

As reported on balidiscovery.com, this year Lion Air ordered 100 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, of which 5 have already been introduced into operations. [See: Roaring Like a Lion].

Seeking Even More Aircraft

While the new aircraft are scheduled for staggered delivery through 2012, the airline is already seeking even more airplanes to meet booming regional aviation demand and are rumoured to be planning to sign a deal for an additional 22 B737-900ER at the December Air Show in Langkawi, Malaysia.

In addition to the US$1 billion maintenance center Lion Air have also announced plans to open a 2 hectare training center in Jakarta which will included 6 flight simulators to help prepare crews for the continuing influx of new cockpit crew to man the 122 new B737-900ER aircraft the airline has on its order books.